State Attorney slams building of settlement school as illegal
Mateh Binyamin building permit was issued without consent of Civil Administration planning officials.
By Akiva Eldar and Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel settlements Israel news Palestinians settlement buildingA building permit issued for a school in the settlement of Talmon was issued without consultation with the Civil Administration or the Palestinians living nearby, according to a State Attorney's Office document. As a result of the issuance of a building permit, the State Attorney's Office asked the Civil Administration to investigate the matter.
Late last week the State Attorney's Office informed the Supreme Court that the Mateh Binyamin local council's planing and building committee acted "fraudulently" in issuing a building permit for a school in the Ramallah-area settlement two months ago.
The written statement notes that the building permit was issued without the planning officials of the Civil Administration being made aware of it, without hearing any opposition, and without a valid decision.
The State Attorney's Office also promised the court that the relevant authorities at the Civil Administration will examine the issue, and that they will provide the court with their findings in the near future.
The issue broke last April, when the Civil Administration issued an announcement that it had prepared a detailed plan for altering the status of the outpost of Givat Habreikha, near Talmon, from an agricultural area to a residential neighborhood with 300 housing units.
In response, the group Bimkom expressed its opposition to the change, on behalf of the head of the local council of the nearby village of Al-Janiah and three villagers who own the land near the area in question.
During hearings on the opposition, Bimkom discovered that Civil Administration planning officials had earlier approved the construction of a school covering 33 dunams. Moreover, the news of the plan for a building a school was published only in two Hebrew language newspapers and in the Arab-language weekly Kul al-Arab, which is published in Nazareth and has limited circulation in the West Bank.
According to Jordanian planning laws, the plans need to be published in two local newspapers. In addition, an announcement on the plan was not posted on the home of the village chief.
In October 2009, Supreme Court Justice Yoram Danziger issued an order forbidding any construction on the area planned for the school. Nonetheless, a building license was issued by the local authority, and work has been done to lay the groundwork for construction.
According to the State attorney, the settlers hid information from the state and the court which followed specific requests from information on the issue of the building plans.
Dana Zimmerman of the left-wing human rights group Yesh Din said that the group will file a petition for expanding the order so that substantive enforcement will be applied by the authorities.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
A young mans birthday is special. My son turns 18 this week and my heart soars with joy. His achievements are so great already. The time he thought nothing of himself and became a hero by jumping in a pool at a party when his friend was drowing. Just a little guy then. The time he pushed his friend out of the way of a car. The time he ran his bike into the house or the go cart into the barb wire fence and he survived it all. The time he went on a save alert with me to check out a Nicaragua USA embassy that had Israeli and USA Marines there. We got into a fire fight as they were overrun. His education and I want all our sons to have education rights as well as daughters. We should celebrate everyones special moments but this week he becomes a man. Trevor Wayne Antoonan Lynch my son. He already was at 10. Bemai Rankoo Nowar Llamos .... Netanya Rabin.
Of course no one can believe anything Israel says. As a famous national leader said, their agreements are just a piece of paper.
Israel PROMISED that all illegal outposts will be vacated and demolished. They have been saying so since 2003, The Civil Administration and Barak again promised 'early' action last year. Israel PROMISED that there would be a settlement freeze for 10 months outside East Jerusalem. Talmon is outside East Jerusalem. Yet not only are 300 new Jewish houses permitted, they are permitted in an illegal settlement outpost. And the idea that the Civil Administration didn't know there was a school being built, when there were obviously contractors on site and concrete being poured, begs belief. This is not just a question about the whole settlement at Talmon, which is intended to create a sizeable new town on occupied land in the OPT, forget the peace talks. It is more a question of: can anyone believe a single word this Israeli government says? They are turning out to be a bunch of liars, deceivers and tricksters. No wonder Israel's international reputation stands at rock-bottom.
These Israeli kids ought to study in their country, Israel, and not in the middle of Palestinian territory. Theu parents should work in Israel, rather than live offr subsidies in settlements on the back of Israeli taxpayers.